DAIIs Dai a security?
#25 by market cap · Last updated Oct 19, 2026 (evidence re-checked)At a glance
Unclear- ConfidenceLowLowHigh
- US exchange accessCoinbase (US incl. NY)
- Regulator (if enacted)SEC or CFTC (undecided)
- Evidence3 sources · 1 official
Is Dai (DAI) a security?
Unclear. A dollar-pegged token that third-party analysis says likely falls outside the GENIUS Act 'payment stablecoin' definition. The SEC says such stablecoins may or may not be securities depending on facts.
There's no official US classification yet, so treatment could go either way. Watch for SEC or CFTC statements and exchange listing changes. Pro alerts flag these for you.
What should I do if my token is "unclear"? →
Why this status
- R5: a dollar-pegged token that third-party analysis says likely falls outside the GENIUS Act 'payment stablecoin' definition. The SEC says such stablecoins may or may not be securities depending on facts.
Decentralisation ("mature blockchain" test): Issued via the Sky/Maker protocol. Governance concentration not assessed.
Evidence (3 sources)
1 official
- Stablecoin lawThird-partyOct 19, 2026 · Ledger Insights
Analysis: DAI (crypto/real-world-asset collateralized, without an issuer obligation to redeem for fixed monetary value) is likely outside the GENIUS Act 'payment stablecoin' category. Third-party analysis, not official.
Ledger Insights: GENIUS Act: does exempting synthetic stablecoins open a back door? ↗ - Exchange listingThird-partyOct 19, 2026 · Coinbase
DAI appears on Coinbase's 'US (incl. NY) Trading Assets' list.
Coinbase Digital Asset Disclosures: 'US (incl. NY) Trading Assets' list ↗ - RegulatorOfficial sourceMar 23, 2026 · Federal Register (SEC & CFTC)
SEC interpretation: stablecoins other than permitted payment stablecoins may be securities depending on facts and circumstances.
SEC interpretation (with CFTC guidance): Application of the Federal Securities Laws to Certain Types of Crypto Assets, Release 33-11412 ↗
Rules by country
Unclear (ClarityCheck estimate, low confidence). The CLARITY Act is not law, so today the SEC's and CFTC's existing frameworks apply.
Not found in ESMA's interim MiCA register of e-money token issuers (checked Oct 19, 2026). Under MiCA, EU platforms restricted non-compliant stablecoins for EEA users in 2024–25. See the delisting tracker. ESMA register ↗
The UK's new FCA cryptoasset regime starts on Oct 25, 2027. Firms can apply from Sept 30, 2026 until Feb 28, 2027. There's no token-by-token classification list; the rules apply to the firms that offer the token. FCA ↗
DAI questions
Is Dai (DAI) a security?
Unclear. A dollar-pegged token that third-party analysis says likely falls outside the GENIUS Act 'payment stablecoin' definition. The SEC says such stablecoins may or may not be securities depending on facts. No court or regulator has classified it, so we don't guess. Not legal advice.
Can I buy DAI on US exchanges?
US access: Coinbase (US incl. NY). Availability can differ by state and by exchange. See our exchange safety checker.
What would the CLARITY Act change for DAI?
There's no official US classification yet, so treatment could go either way. Watch for SEC or CFTC statements and exchange listing changes. Pro alerts flag these for you.
How reliable is this DAI status?
Confidence is Low. It comes from fixed rules applied to 3 cited sources (checked Oct 19, 2026), not from opinion. Statuses can change as courts, regulators and Congress act.
Change log
2 entries
- Status reviewEvidence-based review: status set to 'Unclear' (Low confidence) using ClarityCheck rules. Replaces earlier illustrative demo data.
- SEC interpretation: stablecoins other than permitted payment stablecoins may be securities depending on facts and circumstances. Source ↗
Snapshot Oct 19, 2026 · Prices by CoinGecko